Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in Shillong (Skip the Tourist Junk)
Words by
Anirudh Sharma
The Real Shillong, One Handmade Object at a Time
If you are looking for the best souvenir shopping in Shillong, you need to forget everything you have seen near Police Bazaar's main drag. The plastic keychains and mass-printed "I Love Shillong" mugs stacked near the taxi stands are not what this city is about. Shillong has a deep craft tradition, a living Khasi culture, and a generation of young makers who are quietly redefining what a meaningful local gift looks like. I have spent years walking these streets, talking to weavers, woodcarvers, and tea blenders, and what follows is the list I hand to friends who actually want to bring something real home.
1. Police Bazaar — But the Back Lanes, Not the Front
Everyone knows Police Bazaar. Almost nobody shops there correctly. The main road running through it is a chaotic mix of mobile phone repair shops, clothing stores, and the occasional overpriced curio stall aimed squarely at day-trippers from Guwahati. But if you turn left off the main road toward the narrow lanes behind the GPO and walk past the second row of shops, you will find a cluster of small family-run stores that have been selling authentic souvenirs Shillong visitors rarely see.
One shop, run by a Khasi woman in her sixties, stocks handwoven Ryndia shawls in deep indigo and maroon. Ryndia is a traditional Eri silk fabric unique to Meghalaya, and the ones here are sourced directly from weavers in the Ri-Bhoi district. A full-length shawl costs between 800 and 2,500 rupees depending on the complexity of the weave. She also keeps a small basket of wild hill broom grass products, hand-stitched bags and coasters that you will not find in any airport gift shop.
The best time to visit these back lanes is between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM on a weekday. By afternoon, the lanes get crowded with schoolchildren and the shopkeepers start closing early. On Sundays, most of them are shut entirely.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask for the shawls kept in the wooden trunk behind the counter. Those are the older weaves, the ones the weaver's grandmother made. The ones hanging on the rack are newer, thinner. Same price, but the trunk ones are the real thing."
One honest warning: the lane has no proper drainage, and during the monsoon months of June through September, the lower section floods quickly. Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet.
2. Laitumkhrah Market — The Heart of Local Gifts Shillong
Laitumkhrah is where Shillong residents actually shop, and the market area near the Laitumkhrah Presbyterian Church is one of the most underrated spots for local gifts Shillong has to offer. This is not a tourist market. It is a working neighborhood bazaar where people buy daily vegetables, meat, and household goods. But tucked between the produce vendors are stalls selling handmade bamboo crafts, locally processed honey, and dried wild herbs.
The bamboo craft stalls are run by artisans from the Jaintia Hills region. You will find everything from intricately woven baskets to bamboo jewelry and small carved figurines. A well-made bamboo fruit bowl costs around 300 to 500 rupees. The honey vendors sell raw, unprocessed wild honey collected from the forests around Mawphlang and Mawsynram. A 500-gram jar typically runs 250 to 400 rupees, and the flavor is nothing like the processed stuff you get in supermarkets. It has a sharp, almost floral intensity that comes from the specific wildflowers the bees feed on in the Khasi Hills.
I usually go on a Saturday morning, around 8:00 AM, when the market is at its fullest and the selection is widest. By noon, many of the craft vendors have packed up.
Local Insider Tip: "The honey seller on the left side of the lane, near the dried fish stall, has the best stock. She collects it herself from a village near Nongpoh. Tell her you were sent by someone from the church and she will let you taste before you buy. Nobody else offers that."
The one downside is that the market area can be overwhelmingly crowded and the smell from the dried fish section is intense. If you have a sensitive nose, approach from the church side and work your way in gradually.
3. Madan Laban and the Weaving Cooperative Shops
Madan Laban is a residential area most tourists walk right past on their way to Ward's Lake. But along the small road that connects Madan Laban to the lake, there are two or three tiny cooperative shops run by Khasi women's weaving groups. These cooperatives were set up in the early 2000s to preserve traditional Khasi weaving techniques and provide income to women in rural communities around Shillong.
The items here are genuinely handmade on backstrap looms, and you can sometimes watch the weavers work if you visit in the late morning. The signature product is the Jainsem, a traditional Khasi dress wrap, but they also make smaller items that are easier to carry home, like table runners, cushion covers, and stoles. Prices range from 400 rupees for a simple stole to 3,000 rupees for a detailed Jainsem panel.
What makes these shops special is the direct connection to the maker. Each item comes with a small card bearing the name of the weaver and her village. This is the kind of authentic souvenirs Shillong should be known for, and it is a shame more visitors never find it.
Local Insider Tip: "Go on a Wednesday. That is when the new stock arrives from the villages. The women bring down fresh pieces every Wednesday morning, and by Thursday the best ones are already gone. If you want something custom, ask on Wednesday and they can start it for you by the following week."
The shops are small and easy to miss. Look for hand-painted signs in Khasi and English, and do not be shy about stepping inside even if the door looks half-closed.
4. Khweng and the Bamboo and Cane Craft Clusters
Khweng is a locality on the outskirts of Shillong, near the road toward Umiam Lake. It is not on any tourist map I have ever seen, but it is home to a small cluster of bamboo and cane craft workshops that supply many of the better shops in the city center. If you want to understand what to buy in Shillong and why it matters, visiting a workshop where the raw material is split, dried, and woven by hand is an experience that changes how you see the object.
The artisans here work with locally harvested bamboo and cane, and the range of products is impressive. Storage baskets, lampshades, wall hangings, furniture, and even small musical instruments like the Khasi flute, called the Tangmuri. A handwoven cane lampshade costs between 600 and 1,500 rupees depending on size. The Tangmuri flutes are around 200 to 400 rupees and make a surprisingly beautiful sound.
I visited last Tuesday and spent nearly two hours watching an elderly craftsman split bamboo into paper-thin strips using nothing but a small knife and years of muscle memory. He told me he learned the skill from his father, who learned it from his father before him. This kind of intergenerational craft knowledge is exactly what makes the best souvenir shopping in Shillong so meaningful.
Local Insider Tip: "Bring exact change. These workshops do not have card machines or UPI sometimes, and the nearest ATM is a 15-minute walk back toward the main road. Also, if you buy more than three items, ask for a bundle price. They will almost always give you a discount if you ask politely."
The workshops are not air-conditioned, obviously, and the bamboo dust in the air can be irritating if you have allergies. A simple cloth mask helps.
5. Police Bazaar's Upper Floors — The Overlooked Curio Shops
I mentioned earlier that the ground-floor stalls in Police Bazaar are mostly tourist junk. That is true. But the upper floors of some of the older buildings along the main road house small curio shops that most visitors never think to explore because there are no signs drawing you upstairs. These shops stock a mix of Khasi tribal jewelry, antique brass items, and hand-carved wooden objects that have been collected from villages across Meghalaya over decades.
One shop on the second floor of a building near the main intersection has a collection of old Khasi silver ornaments, including the traditional Khasi tiara-like headpiece called the Kpien. These are not reproductions. They are genuine antique pieces sourced from families in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. Prices are high, starting at 5,000 rupees and going up significantly, but the craftsmanship is extraordinary. For something more affordable, the same shop stocks small wooden carvings of Khasi mythological figures, priced between 300 and 800 rupees.
The best time to visit is on a weekday afternoon, between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, when the shop owner is relaxed and willing to talk. He knows the story behind every piece in his collection, and if you show genuine interest, he will spend an hour explaining the cultural significance of items you would otherwise walk past.
Local Insider Tip: "Do not buy the first thing you see. Walk around the entire shop, ask questions, and then come back to what caught your eye. The owner respects buyers who take their time, and he is more likely to share the real history of a piece with someone who is curious rather than someone who just wants a quick transaction."
The staircase leading up is narrow and poorly lit. Watch your step, and if you have mobility issues, these upper-floor shops are not accessible.
6. The Sunday Market at Iew Shillong (Shillong Weekly Market)
Every Sunday, the area around Iew Shillong, the traditional weekly market, transforms into one of the largest open-air markets in the region. This is where people from villages across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills come to sell everything from fresh produce to handmade crafts. For anyone interested in local gifts Shillong style, this is the single best weekly event in the city.
The craft section is concentrated on the eastern side of the market. You will find handwoven baskets, traditional Khasi weapons like the ceremonial sword called the U Ryngkew, small bamboo flutes, and an enormous variety of dried and preserved local foods. Pickled bamboo shoots, dried wild berries, and locally made chili paste in small jars are all popular buys. A jar of chili paste costs around 100 to 150 rupees and lasts for months.
The market opens at dawn and runs until early afternoon. I arrive by 7:00 AM to get the best selection. By 11:00 AM, the crowd is thick and the heat makes browsing uncomfortable. The market is also an incredible cultural experience. You will hear Khasi, Garo, and Bengali spoken in equal measure, and the energy is unlike anything else in the city.
Local Insider Tip: "Park near the lower end and walk up. The best craft vendors are at the top of the slope, near the section where they sell herbs and medicinal plants. Most tourists never make it that far because the climb is steep. Also, carry a reusable bag. The vendors use thin plastic bags that tear easily, and you do not want your purchases spilling halfway down the hill."
The market is not paved, and the ground can be uneven and muddy, especially during the monsoon. Sturdy footwear is essential.
7. Umiam Lake Roadside Stops — Beyond the Viewpoint
Most people stop at Umiam Lake for a photo and drive straight back to Shillong. That is a mistake. Along the road between the main viewpoint and the lake's northern edge, there are several small roadside stalls run by local villagers selling handmade crafts and local food products. These stalls are informal and unpolished, but that is precisely what makes them worth visiting.
The most interesting items here are the hand-knitted woolen caps and mufflers made by Khasi women from villages near the lake. Shillong's winters are cold, and woolwork is a practical craft that has been passed down for generations. A hand-knitted cap costs between 200 and 500 rupees and is significantly warmer and more durable than the machine-knitted ones sold in the city. The stalls also sell small carved wooden crosses and religious figurines, reflecting the strong Christian heritage of the Khasi Hills.
I stopped at one of these stalls on a cold December afternoon and ended up spending an hour chatting with the woman who ran it. She told me that the wool comes from sheep raised in the highland villages above the lake, and that each cap takes about three days to knit. This kind of direct, human connection to the object you are buying is what authentic souvenirs Shillong is all about.
Local Insider Tip: "The third stall from the main viewpoint, on the left side of the road, has the best woolen caps. The woman who runs it uses a traditional Khasi pattern that you will not see in the city shops. Ask for the 'Khasi pattern' specifically. She will know what you mean."
These stalls are seasonal and weather-dependent. During heavy rain or fog, they may not be open. The best months to visit are October through February, when the weather is clear and the stalls are consistently staffed.
8. The Meghalaya Handicrafts Emporium (Government-Run)
The Meghalaya Handicrafts Emporium, located near the main commercial area of Shillong, is a government-run store that often gets dismissed by travelers as too formal or overpriced. That dismissal is unfair. While the prices here are slightly higher than what you might pay at a village workshop or Sunday market, the quality control is consistent, the items are genuinely handmade, and the range is the widest you will find under one roof.
The emporium stocks everything from Ryndia silk products and Khasi jewelry to bamboo crafts, wood carvings, and traditional musical instruments. A set of bamboo coasters costs around 200 rupees. A hand-carved wooden jewelry box runs 800 to 1,500 rupees. The jewelry section features both traditional Khasi silver pieces and more contemporary designs using local materials like river stones and seeds.
What I appreciate most about this emporium is the labeling. Each item is tagged with information about the craft tradition it comes from, the region, and sometimes the name of the artisan. For visitors who want to understand what to buy in Shillong and why it matters culturally, this context is invaluable.
Local Insider Tip: "Ask to see the stockroom. The emporium keeps a back room with items that are not displayed on the floor, including older pieces and one-of-a-kind items that did not fit the standard display. The staff will show you if you ask politely. I found a hand-carved wooden mask there that I have never seen anywhere else in the city."
The emporium is air-conditioned and comfortable, which is a relief during Shillong's humid summers. However, the fixed pricing means there is no room for bargaining, which some visitors find frustrating if they are used to negotiating at markets.
When to Go and What to Know
Shillong's weather is the single biggest factor in planning your souvenir shopping. The city receives heavy rainfall from June through September, and many outdoor markets and roadside stalls operate on reduced schedules or close entirely during prolonged downpants. The best months for shopping are October through March, when the skies are clearer and the temperatures hover between 10 and 22 degrees Celsius.
Cash is still king in most of the places I have listed above. While UPI payments have become more common in Shillong's city center, the village workshops, Sunday market stalls, and roadside vendors almost exclusively operate on cash. Carry small denominations, as many vendors struggle to break 500 or 1,000 rupee notes.
Bargaining is expected at markets and roadside stalls but not at cooperative shops or the government emporium. A good rule of thumb is to start at about 70 percent of the asking price and settle somewhere in between. At cooperatives and artisan workshops, the prices are usually fair and fixed, and haggling is considered disrespectful.
Most shops in Shillong open around 9:30 or 10:00 AM and close by 6:00 or 7:00 PM. Sundays are quiet, with many shops closed entirely. Plan your shopping for Monday through Saturday, and aim for mornings when the selection is fresh and the crowds are thin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a specialty coffee or local tea in Shillong?
A cup of local Khasi tea or a basic coffee at a neighborhood stall costs between 20 and 50 rupees. At a specialty cafe in areas like Laitumkhrah or Police Bazaar, a specialty coffee ranges from 120 to 250 rupees. Locally sourced Meghalaya tea, sold by the cup at a few specialty spots, runs 60 to 120 rupees depending on the blend and preparation.
Is Shillong expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
A mid-tier traveler can expect to spend between 2,500 and 4,000 rupees per day. This includes a decent hotel or guesthouse at 1,200 to 2,000 rupees, meals at local restaurants for 600 to 1,000 rupees, local transport by shared taxi or cab for 300 to 500 rupees, and a buffer of 400 to 500 rupees for entry fees, tips, and small purchases. Costs rise during peak tourist season from October to December.
Are credit cards widely accepted across Shillong, or is it necessary to carry cash for daily expenses?
Credit cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, and a few established shops in the city center. However, most markets, roadside stalls, village workshops, and small eateries operate on cash or UPI only. Carrying at least 2,000 to 3,000 rupees in cash per day is advisable for anyone planning to shop at the locations described in this guide.
What is the standard tipping etiquette or service charge policy at restaurants in Shillong?
Most restaurants in Shillong do not include a service charge. Tipping 5 to 10 percent of the bill is appreciated but not strictly expected. At smaller local eateries, rounding up the bill or leaving 20 to 50 rupees is common practice. At upscale restaurants, a 10 percent tip is standard if no service charge is added.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Shillong?
Vegetarian options are widely available across Shillong, as a significant portion of the population follows a vegetarian diet. Most local Khasi restaurants serve vegetable-based dishes alongside meat. Fully vegan options are harder to find, as dairy and animal fats are common in traditional cooking, but dedicated vegetarian restaurants in areas like Police Bazaar and Laitumkhrah can accommodate vegan requests if asked in advance.
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